N493 Laughter

[National 12 Webmaster]

The life of N493 Laughter.   Design: Holt 500, designed by: Jack Holt

 

Burton Cup & YW Points Cup winning boat, Harwich 1946, Jack Holt and Beecher Moore.

[edwillett]

The first of Jack Holt's famous "500"series in which he won the first post war Burton Cup race and series in 1946 with Beecher Moore. They won many Open Meetings in her and were also 3rd in the 1947 Burton Cup race and second overall in the 1948 Burton Week series. The windy Thursday race of the 1948 Burton Week is immortalised in Chapter 4 of Robin Steavenson's 1955 book "When Dinghies Delight" as he describes in fascinating detail a close battle between himself (in N153) and Beecher Moore in Laughter; just beating Beecher for the race win. Well worth another read!
Laughter migrated north to Pencaitland in East Lothian in 1950(ish) where she spent most of her life before my father bought her in the early 1990's. He did much restoration work on her, including replacing the keel. The original wooden mast was restored and some period cotton sails also procured and I was lucky enough to sail Laughter for the first time in many many years in 1992 at Llangorse Lake in South Wales. My father took Laughter to Cookham Reach SC Vintage Meeting on October 2nd 1993 where she was re-united with Robin Steavenson who fascinated us by vividly recounting his 1948 race against Beecher Moore. 
Laughter found a new home later in the 90's as my fathers health declined and he was unable to sail her or maintain her as he would wish.
I will scan and post some pictures of the restoration of Laughter in due course.

[edwillett]

Here is a late 1940's photograph of Jack Holt racing Laughter. I'm not sure of the venue.

[Tim Gatti]

After a brief laying-up period with Brian Herring, N493 was purchased by Rob Simcock in 1998 and he meticulously maintained and sailed her until I purchased her earlier this summer. She is still in exceptional condition for her age and ghosted along beautifully when I sailed her at Yeadon on a more or less windless and hot day in later July. She should have been competing at the Yorkshire Ouse 70th Anniversary Event, along with a number of other ribbed 12's in early September, but the event was unfortunately cancelled due to the flooding that weekend. She will hopefully be making further appearances next season if a plan for some local, ad hoc, ribbed 12 race events as a historical sideline to our Northern Area activities can be agreed. Four ribbed 12's - N2, N341, N493 and N711 currently available to participate.

[Tim Gatti]

A couple more photos...

[edwillett]

Tim
Thanks for the update on Laughter. It is lovely to see her out sailing again!
By the looks of it though you are still using the sails I cobbled together for her inaugural relaunch in the early 1990's - being a 1960  vintage (yes really!) terylene mainsail hand-me-down from Water Nymph (N1833) and a very battered old Banks jib that was ex Inches to Spare (N3141)!! Those sails have some good miles in them!!
Cheers
Ed

[Tim Gatti]

Thanks Ed. You're right the sails are a bit worn and are complemented by what looks like an original Ratsey jib. If you know of a better suit anywhere I'd be glad to hear of it as I'm trying to get all three ribbies into a reasonably competitive state so they can be raced together next season.

[edwillett]

Tim
When my father owned her Laughter had a full suit of Ratsey cotton sails in excellent condition. We used to iron them and keep them in the airing cupboard and they certainly looked fantastic when in use. I have a photograph of Laughetr with her cotton sails. i will scan it in due cousre and post it here.
Ed

[Tim Gatti]

Here's a lovely photo of Neil and Rachel sailing 'Laughter' in the Ribby Sailing competition at Yeadon in Oct 2009